Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency had to settle for a 2-2 draw with Trinity Western University Spartans on Saturday afternoon.One month before Thomas Niendorf’s side take part in the U-19 Super Group division of Dallas Cup XXIX, Whitecaps Residency looked to record their second win against the 2007 Canada West men’s soccer champions in Langley, having beaten TWU 1-0 last November.In what proved to be a game of two halves, it was the Residency squad that ran out to a 2-0 halftime lead, with Abbotsford, BC, native Gagandeep Dosanjh breaking the deadlock on 17 minutes after redirecting teammate Dever Orgill’s initial strike at goal. They doubled their advantage from the penalty spot five minutes before the break, as Navid Mashinchi converted his spot kick after new men’s team signing Nicholas Addlery was brought down in the Spartans penalty box.After dominating play in the first half, Niendorf made four changes to his side for the start of the second half, and the substitutions seemed to have an impact, as hosts TWU were able to get back into the friendly contest. The Spartans got on the scoresheet in fortunate circumstances on 73 minutes, as Residency defender Anthony DiNicolo inadvertently knocked the ball into his own net to make it 2-1. The Spartans then made it 2-2 with an equalizer six minutes later, as the game eventually ended in stalemate.The draw takes the Residency team’s unbeaten run since last October’s trip to Germany to six games. The squad will continue to prepare for their trip to Texas next month and three important games against top international opposition. They start their Dallas Cup campaign on the tournament’s opening day (March 16) when they face Portuguese giants Benfica. The following day, Whitecaps Residency take on Mexican giants Chivas Guadalajara before completing their group games on March 19 against German Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt. All three matches will take place at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas.Later in the summer, Whitecaps Residency will embark on their inaugural campaign in the eight-team Western Conference Northwest Division of the USL Premier Development League. All the of team’s home games will be played at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, BC.
Whitecaps FC Residency - line-up v Trinity Western University Spartans
Simon Thomas (Karm Shergill 65’); Antonio Rago (Greg Smith 45’), Adam Straith, Anthony DiNicolo, William Hyde; Philippe Davies, Gagandeep Dosanjh (Drew Russell 45’), Kyle Porter, Navid Mashinchi; Dever Orgill (Marcus Johnstone 45’), Nicholas Addlery (Randy Edwini-Bonsu 45’)
